Electric switch



oct. 25, 1932. H, sTElNl-{ART 1,884,341

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb; 17, 1951 Patented Oct. 25, 1(9 32 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERMANN STEINHART, OF STUTTGART, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 ROBERT`ROSCH AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, 0F STUTTGART, GERMANY ELECTRIC SWITCH Application llled February 17, 1931, Serial No. 516,408, and in Germany If'ebruary 26,1980.

The present invention relates to electric switches and in particular is applicable to switches used in the electric systems of motor vehicles.

In order to provide a switch of compact construction suitable for use with the electric systems *of motor vehicles, it has already been proposed to provide a withdrawable key member the displacement of which member is utilized for an ignition circuit whilst the switch handle in the axis of which the key is adapted to be mounted is utilized for the lighting circuit. In one known form of construction, the lighting switch is unlocked by .movable pin, which simultaneously switches on the ignition. The ignition is switched oi and the lighting switch simultaneously locked by the withdrawal of the key.

- According to the present invention and in order, for example to allow locking of the lighting switch, when the switch key is withdrawn, the switch key is automatically coupled to a rotatable switch member when it is rotated while in the pressed down position, it being possible to make and break at least one circuit by the rotation of this switch member.

The invention is more particularly def scribed with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one form of construction by way of example and in which Figure 1 a longitudinal section through the switch.

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line AB of Figure 1..

Figure 3 is a detail view of one of the discs receiving the key.

VFi ure4 is a detail view showing 'another disc or receiving the key.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the key and Figure 6 is a circuit diagram for one switch disc.' i -1 /Three lugs or flanges 2, of a pot-shaped member 3 which is provided with a rotatable' sleeve 4 foi" a key 5, arerivettcdto a base plate 1 made of insulating material. The top of the sleeve 4 is covered bytwo discs 6 and 7 bordered into the sleeve,` the disc 6 having slots 8 formed therein whilst the disc 7 has pressing down the key against an axially slots 8 and 9 for the reception of the wardslO of the key 5. The bottom of the sleeve 4 is .connected to a circular switch plate 11.

An annular switch plate 12 which is connected to a hollow knob 13 adapted to be used 55 lower sides with suitable contact segments 23.

A bolt 14, which is connected at one end by a bar 15 to a pin 1 6, is axially displaceable relative to the sleeve 4 within which it is mounted, such displacement being against a helical spring 17 when the key 5 is pressed 70 down against the bolt. The two switch plates 11 and 12 are provided on their cooperating adjacent edges with notches 18, 19 respectively, vthe number of notches correspending to the number of switchpositions. In every switch position of the two switch platesll, 12 one notch 18 and one notch 19 lie opposite each other, so that the pin 1U can be accommodated between them.

direction is mounted in a bore of the base plate 1 and serves for guiding the pin 16.

Two stop' pins 21'ae mounted in the base plate 1 for the purpose oflimiting the rotations of the two switch plates 11, 12. Con- The operation of the switch is as follows l When the key 5 is drawn out of the sleeve 4 the bar 15 on the bolt 14 is pressed against thev switch plate 11 by the spring 17-as shown.

The pin 16 thereby engages in two mutually opposite notches 18 and 19 of the two switch 95 plates 11 and 12, and these accordingl are secured against rotation as the pin 16 orms a locking connection between the plates.

For t-he purpose of using the switch, the

key 5 is inserted in the sleeve 4 whereby the 100 A bolt 20 adapted to move in a longitudinal 80 two ; locked.

key-ward 10 passes through the two slots 8, disposed in ljuxtaposition in the two d1scs 6 and 7. y By pressing the ke 5 against the bolt 14 the locking pin 16 is orced out of the ooves 18 and 19, whereby the two switc plates 11, 12 are unlocked, so that they ca-n be rotated into any desired switch position.

If the key 5 is rotated to some degree in its pressed down position it is maintained in this position by the lower face of the disc 7 against which the key-ward 10 abuts. The key 5 is preferably rotatedY until the key-ward 10 reaches and is inserted in the slots 9 of the disc 7, these slots being covered by the disc 6. The key 5 thus becomes coupled with the sleeve 4 and with the switch plate 11 con` nected to this. If the key is now rotated further for 90, the switch plate 11 will also be displaced for 90 so that a certain circuit or circuits for example the ignition and horn circuit may be switched in.

This position of the switch plate 11 is allustrated in Figure 6 in which two contact segments of the switch plate 11 are repre.-

sented by 23, the contact springs by 22, the battery by 24, the ignition device by 25 and the horn by 26. In this position the key 5 can be withdrawn and the switch thereby When it is desired to bring the switch plate 11 back into the initial position, the key 5 is inserted and pressed against' the bolt 14 so that the key-ward 10 can come within the slots9 in the disc 7 `and the key 5 is then turned back until it can again come out of the sleeve through the slots' 8 of the discs 6 and 7 the slots lying one above the other. In this position the ignition circuit in addition to the horn circuit is` interrupted.

The switch plate 12 serves for switching the lighting on and off, and has three positions as known: (1) off (2) parking light and.(3)

headlights. It can be locked in any of these-1 three switch positions by withdrawing the key 5.

If desired the lighting switch canv be changed in any suitable manner; this also applies to the general construction of the whole switch. If the switch is only towork the h ornI circuit and not the ignition circuit as described, the contact springs 22 provided on the switch plate 11 forthe ignition circuit are omitted. i

What is claimed-is 4 1. 4An electric switch comprising a pair of relatively displaceable elements, contacts on said elements, a fixed member, contacts on said fixed member adapted to be engaged by the contacts on said relatively displaceable members, means including a pin carried by said iiXed member for locking said relatively Idisplaceable members in a fixed relative position, and means removable from the switch for displacing said locking means to permit .relative displacement of said members on insertion of said removable means.

. 2. An electric switch comprising a housing, a pair of co-aXial annular relatively displaceable elements, contacts carried by-said elements, a fixed plate, contacts on said ixed plate engaged byc-ontacts on said annular elements to establish a number of independent electric circuits, a pin carried by said fixed plate which normally prevents said annular elements from relative displacement and a ke which, on insertion within said housing A isplaces said pin from locking en# gagement with the annular elements, one of which is rotated relatively to the other on rotation of the key.

3. An electric switch comprising a housing, a base plate at one end of said housing, contacts on said base plate, a sleeve within said housing, an annular plate connected to saidl sleeve and having a number of slots on its outer periphery, a second annular plate coaxial with the first plate and slotted on its inner periphery, contacts on said second-an nular plate, a pin carried by said fixed plate and engaging in the slots on said annular plates to prevent relative rotation between said plates and between either of said plates and said fixed plate and a key adapted for insertion through said eleeve to :displace said pin out of its locking position, rotation of said key after displacement of said pin permitting relative displacement of said annular plates and relative displacement of either of said plates with said fixed plate.

- 4. An electric switch as claimed in claim 3, comprising wards on said key and a pair of centrally slotted discs at the inlet e'nd of said sleeve forl the passage of the key ward therethrough, the lower of said discs when the wards are in position in the slots therein connecting said key with said sleeve to rotate one of said relatively annular displaceable plates.

5. An electric switch as claimed in claim 3 comprising a bolt situated in said sleeve andl a radially disposed arm at one end of said b`olt for connection to said pin, the insertion of said key and the contact thereby with the other `and of the bolt longitudinally displacing said 'bolt to release said pin in lockin engagement between said relatively disp aceable annular plates.

6. An electric switch as claimed in claim 3, comprising a bolt within said sleeve, spring for each switch position, means for operating said switch plates, and locking means operated by one of' said operating means and adapted to engage in said grooves when they are in register.

8. An electric switch having two concentric switch plates each provided at its edges with ooves, two of which are opposite each other or each switch position, a key for l operating one of said switch plates, a handle for operating the other switch plate, and a' pin axially movable by the key and engaging 1n op osing grooves.

9. n electric switch including a key, a switch handle provided with a recess in the axis thereof, and a rotatable switch member,

said switch adapted to be locked by the withdrawal of said key from said recess and unlocked when said key is pressed inwardly of said recess, said key being coupled with said rotatable switch member when pressed inwardly whereby rotation of said key rotates said rotatable switch member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HERMANN STEINHART. 

